Nature's Palette Custom Woodworking and Cabinetry

First, I would like to preface this by letting you all know I flip homes, have manage residential and commercial RE, and am a trustee for multiple properties. I've spent a lot of time renovating property and dealing with subs (subcontractors). Here are a couple tips on picking someone for cabinetry and why I chose Nature's Palette. This is a long review so brace yourself. If you want the summary just read the last paragraph. This review is more geared towards resale but the principals are the same for homeowners and investors alike. IMO, construction boils down to a few key items: quality, pricing, delivery, and expectations. Here's a breakdown of how and why I chose who I do. QUALITY: When picking a sub for cabinets, quality is MOST important. For selling a house, people often underestimate the impact cabinets have. I've been around for many open houses and have listened to thousands of agents and prospective buyers react to all different types of cabinets. People will ALWAYS notice when the cabinetry is right. Quality is why people fall in love with a home. Deeming a kitchen or bathroom acceptable will not get you top dollar. Luckily (yet unfortunate for those who under-deliver), a product's quality reigns supreme for customers. The internet has changed construction for the better as people can see the meat without having to meet the butcher. People can take a walk-through your house or check out a kitchen cabinets with the click of a mouse. How is this important? Because of this ability, the product needs to stand out and deliver. Not unlike a furniture or electronics store, people will closely inspect, try, and decide whether things are what seem. We've all heard kitchens and baths sell the house, and there's a reason for that. Trust me...if you cut corners here, people will know. Just this year alone we have sold multiple properties with cabinets done by Nature's Palette. Each of these homes had over 30 offers and sold for well above asking. Each and every one of the buyers said they absolutely loved the cabinetry. Do your homework and check references and previous work...pictures are worth a 1,000 words and sometimes even a couple thousand bucks. PRICE: This can be tricky for most people and understandably so. But, many people over-analyze and get caught up in pincing pennies. Obviously you want to keep the cost low but pick your battles. When deciding how much to spend on what remember that emphasis (read: money) is best placed on the items of the greatest impact (e.g. high ROI). You can always repaint, change out hardware, and replace the carpet. These things are easy and low cost. On the other hand, changing cabinets is a commitment and an expensive one at that. With all bidding, I do not usually go with the cheaper of the bunch. This is not a rule of mine but more of a finding. I believe people who know what their time is worth know what is worth to do something the right way. Everything you do to a home will affect sale price and length of sale. The real issue here is making sure you are getting a deal for the other factors at play (quality, delivery, and expectations). The trick is to get another set of numbers. Pay close attention to how someone listens to your concerns and what ideas they come up with. You also want to make sure the carpenter seems a little artistic and creative to help you come up with ideas. Overall, Mark's (owner of Nature's Palette) prices are in-between low and medium. He's not the cheapest of the bunch, but he is a great deal for what you get. DELIVERY: This is all about getting what was promised. It never ceases to amaze me when people do not follow through as promised. Most of the time the excuses pile up and the job never quite gets finished as promised. Again, personal references are paramount. People are capable of over-promising, and you don't want to be at the losing end of the stick. The key here is to sort out all expectations, deadlines, potential change orders (unforeseen issues or changes in client requests), and price associated with any change of plans. This is where a good contract and someone who crosses their t's and dots their i's comes in handy. At the end of the day, YOU are responsible for making sure your homework is done and that you've given the job to someone you trust. References, contracts, and attention to detail have never been an issue in my dealings with Nature's Palette. EXPECTATIONS: Are you resonable? Do you know enough about something to make an educated decision? These are both questions I ask myself and instruct friends, family, and clients to ask, especially when it comes to construction. My advice is to get educated (e.g. reading a book from amazon or a couple articles online). A little terminology and knowledge goes a long way when dealing with construction. Also, do not expect the world from your sub. Contractors need to be treated just like everyone else. Be stern when needed but also remember that unexpected delays and mistakes come up A LOT in construction. If you're not on a deadline don't sweat the small stuff. I've seen projects take a lot longer than expected and I've seen them finish early. Be helpful if you can and focus on solutions not problems. As expected with any sub, Mark and I have had hiccups over the years. Fortunately, he's always respected my time and helped me manage his and my expectations. Long story short, Mark, the owner of Nature's Palette, knows his stuff and has always delivered for me. He's done multiple reno's for me in the past and has even done my kitchen and baths. His custom woodwork is truly beautiful, and he's an artist with the scroll saw! The pricing is more than fair for the quality of the work, and he always delivers a finished product. His staff is quite funny to boot as well. Big thanks to Mark and his crew for all the years of hard work and dedication.

It could not of gone better-He met all timelines and his work exceeded our expectation. The final installation really showed his attention to detail, professionalism, and customer oriented approach. I will certainly be using these guys again in the future. Great value for such high quality detailed craftsmanship.